bird houses + beyond

Bird house competition engages broad audiences.The City of Chicago and Chicago Park District hosted Tweet Home Chicago — a bird house design and build competition — in 2010 to raise awareness about birds and bird habitat. More than 130 adults and youth submitted delightful, functional bird houses made of sustainable materials with a Chicago bird-friendly location in mind. These wonderful and whimsical bird houses are being displayed in Chicago parks and other locations across the city to help residents realize the steps they can take to help our feathered friends.

Learn more.Chicago is a leader in urban bird conservation. Learn more about our birds and how people are helping them.

Learn more at cityofchicago.org/Environment.

See photos of all the houses at flickr.com/people/tweethomechicago.

Chicago is a great city for birds. Birds are an important part of our urban ecology, controlling insect populations and other pests, pollinating flowers and bringing nature into our lives. More than 80 species of birds nest here, while 200 more use our city as a resting stop during migration every spring and fall. Birds like Chicago for many of the same reasons we do — our extensive park system, lakefront green spaces, leafy streets and yards. Let’s work together to create more and better green spaces for our birds.

City of Chicago Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Suzanne Malec-McKenna Commissioner

M A Y O R ‘ S N A T U R E & W I L D L I F E

A D V I S O R Y C O M M I T T E E

C H I C A G O

Barn swaLLow

Timothy J. Mitchell Superintendent & CEO

chicago

kiLLdeer

Printed on 100% recycled paper with soy-based inks

Bird houses have their place.Bird houses help us connect with nature while helping local birds. However, a poorly managed bird house can also attract pest birds. While bird houses can help the dozen or so native birds that nest in cavities here, habitat and other improvements can help hundreds of other beneficial bird species that call Chicago home or pass through during migration.

Landscape with birds in mind.Loss of habitat is the biggest threat to many of our region’s bird species. Even the smallest yard, if landscaped appropriately, can provide habitat for birds. Plus, these strategies provide many other benefits like stormwater management, site cooling, aesthetics and more.

Tips for landscaping with birds in mind: Plant in layers (canopy, understory, shrub, and ground cover) that will provide food and shelter.Provide a diversity of food sources like seeds, berries and nectar-producing flowers. Plant native plant species that birds prefer.Where possible, allow dead vegetation to stand during the winter where possible so birds can find shelter.Reduce or eliminate the use of insecticides and herbicides.Minimize use of turf grass where possible.

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apartment dwellers can help birds too!

Reduce window reflection to prevent birds from colliding with glass. Keep cats indoors to prevent predation of birds.Cover trash cans to prevent attracting opossums, raccoons and other nest predators as well as nuisance birds like pigeons, gulls and Canada geese. Do not feed birds, except in small backyard feeders. Birds are better served with a natural diet.Volunteer to improve bird habitat at a park or preserve. See tinyurl.com/cpdstewardship Join a local Audubon Society or bird club. Volunteer to rescue injured birds. See birdmonitors.net or flintcreekwildlife.org

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Chimney swift

nighthawk

osprey

BLaCk-Crowned night heron

peregrine faLCon

northern CardinaL

tree swaLLow